Conductor disconnecter



Nov. 11 1930. WILLI MS" 1,731,144

CONDUCTOR DISGONNEGTER Filed May 20, 1925 PM FWZZLZZW Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL F. WILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G. & W. ELECTRIC SPECIALTY CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ooNnoc'roa nrsconnncrnn Application filed May 20,

This invention relates to a device for connecting and disconnecting electrical conductors.

One object of the invention is to provide simple, reliable and efficient means for electrically connecting and disconnecting electrical conductors in a manner insuring an intimate electrical contact between conductors and which permits of ready disconnection of 1 said conductors.

Another object is to provide an electrical disconnecter for electrical conductors of the pothead type, in which the parts cooperate in a new and improved manner to produce efficient results, and whereby burning of the main contacts is avoided.

Another object is to provide a device of the class described adapted to meet all of the requirements under service conditions.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. lis a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a conductor disconnecter of the pothead type embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1.; and

Fig. 8 is a detail elevational view showing the band and its operating mechanism, whereby the contact cylinders are pressed into engagement with each other for making an intimate electrical contact therebetween.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that my invention is illustrated in connection with a disconnecter of the pothead type, in which the body 10 of the pothead receives one connecter member 11 and the cap 12 receives another connecter member 18. The connecter 11 is secured in position between shoulders let and 15 in the body of the pothead by means including a collar portion 16 at one end of the connecter 11 and nuts 17 threaded onto the other end of said connector. Arground cable 18 is shown electrically connected to'the connecter 11 in 1925. Serial No. 31,533.

the usual way, at 19, said cable 18 being otherwise sealed to the body portion 10 in the usual manner. I

An overhead or other cable 20, entering the cap and properly sealed thereto, is electrically connected in the usual manner at 21 to the connecter 18. A supporting collar 22 is cemented in position in the cap 12 and has a shoulder 28 upon which the connecter 18 rests, there being a nut 24: engaging the opposite end of said collar 22 for clamping the connector 18 in position. The connecter 18 terminates in a yieldably split plug 25 which is received by a socket portion 26 formed in the upper end of connecter 11. Accordingly it will be appreciated that when the cap 12 is placed down over the body 10 in its normal position, an electrical connection will be made between the cables 18 and 20 by virtue of the plug and socket members 25 and 26. Such electrical connection, however, does not form the main electrical connection between the cables 18 and 20, but is of an auxiliary nature. It will be noted that a contact cylinder 7, having an upper flange 28, is electrically connected and clamped to a collar 29 on the connecter 11 by a nut 80 tnreaded onto the upper end of the connecter 11. Similarly, a contact cylinder 81, having a flange 82, is electrically connected to the other connecter 18 and is clamped between the nut 24 and another nut 88 threaded onto the connecter 18. The outer contact cylinder 81 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced flexible tongues 84 which are telescopically arranged with respect to the inner contact cylin der 27. As shown in Fig. 1, the flexible tongues 84 are in electrical engagement with the inner contact cylinder 27, but means are provided for making said electrical connection more intimate for forming the main electrical connection between the cables 18 and 20. Said means take the form or" a flexible band 85, which surrounds or embraces the outer contact cylinder 81 and its tongues 84; and is adapted, when properly actuated, to press the spring contact fingers 84 radially or laterally inwardly into a more intimate engagement with the inner contact cylinder 27 for improving the electrical connection.

plurality of looped portions l0 which are se' cured to the rod portions and 38, and the other endof the band has one or more loop portions, only one 41 being shown, looped around and secured to the rod portion 39.

As shown particularly in Fig, 1, the band 35 is loose'and the portions 38 and 39, which are eccentric with respect to each other,

have such eccentric port-ions in radial alignment, If the rod 36 is now rotated upon its -Xis in one direction, it will appreciated thatthe portions 37 and 38, which are eccentric with respect to the rod portions 39, will move out of their radial relationship for clamping the band 35 against the flexible tongues 34 of the outer contact cyiinderfor forcing said flexible tongues into more intimate engagement with the inner contact cylinder 27 for making a more intimate electrical connection between the cables 13 and 20.

If for any reason it is desired to electrically disconnect the cables 18 and 20, the control rod 36 is rotated in the opposite direction so that the eccentric portions 37, 38

and 39 become radially aligned for loosening the band 35 for making the electrical engagement between the inner contact cylinder 2? and the flexible tongues 340i the outer contact cylinder 31 less intimate, whereupon the pothead cap may be pulled away from the .pothea-d body lO, which results in electrical disconnection between the connecters 11 and 13, connected'respectively to the cables 18 and 20. Attention is called to the fact that the flexibleplug 25 of connecter 13 remains in electrical engagementwith the socket portion 26 of connecter 11 longer than the outer contact cylinder remains in electrical engagement with the inner contact cylinder 27 by-virtue of the fact that the interengaging portions of the plug 25 and socket 26 are greater in length than the corresponding interengaging portions of the inner and outer contact cylinders 2?.and 31. As a result thereof, the circuit of the. cables 18 and 20 is finally broken between the contact plug 25 .andthesocket portion 26 of the connectors 13 .ZLIldJll respectively. lniother words, it might besaid that such portions comprise-the arcing tips for. protecting ;the main contacts, which arerthe contact cylinders 31 and 27 By-means ;of. this combination, electrical This actuatin member takes 'nected to each connection between the two cables may be quickly made and broken, the connections, when made, being intimate and etflcient, the main contacts being protected against any injury resulting from arcing.

I claim: 7

V 1.. In a device of the class described, a cable, a contact cylinder electrically connected thereto, another cable, a contact cylinder electrically connected to said second cable and having a yieldable portion'telescopically arranged with respect to the first contact cylinde'r, and' flexible means for pressing the yieldable-portionof said second contact cylinder into engagement with said first contact cylinder for making an intimate electrical contact therebetween, and: means associated with said flexible means and operable to selectively-release intimate contact between said cylinders. r

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cable, a contactcylinder electrically connected thereto, anothen cable, contact icylinder electricallyconnected to said second cable, said contact cylinders being "telescopically arranged, and flexible means for pressing one o'f'said cylinders into intimate engagement with saidother cylinder for making an: intimate electrical contact therebetween, and means 'associated with said flexible means and operable to selectively release intimate: contact-between said cylindersc I i 3. In a =device of the class described, the combination of Ta plurality of electrical conductors, a contact 3 cylinder electrically connected to each of said conductors and'being telescopically arranged, and flexible means for :pressing oneof said contact cylinders laterally into more-intimate engagement with respect tothe other cylinder-tor improving the electrical connection, and means associatedwith said flexible means and operable to selectively release-intimate contact-between said cylinders.-

In a device :of the class described, the combinationot a plurality of electrical: .conductors, "a contact member electrically: conncctcd to-each of saidconductors, one of said contact membersbeing flexible, and flexible means embracing said contact members for pressing said flexible cont-act memberjintonngageinent with the'other contact member for making a-more intimate electrical connection between-said contact members and means 'as- 7 sociated with said lGIIilElQIHQ IIS and opertoselectively release made contact between said Contact member a device oiithe class ion of a pluralityof s, coi member-electisaid conductors pressing'one ribed, the

ally con- ;d a tiers ible band lo;

.membe-rsinto intin'iate .engligen'ienti with the other contact menber f r nnproymgzt-herclcc' ical contrical connection, said band having a member secured thereto and operable to selectively release the improved connection between said contact members.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of electrical conductors, a contact cylinder electrically connected to each of said conductors and being telescopically arranged, one of said contact cylinders having flexible tongues adapted to engage the other contact cylinder, and flexible means for pressing said tongues into in timate engagement with said other contact cylinder for improving the electrical connec tion therebetween, said means having a member secured thereto and operable to selectively release the improved connection between said contact cylinder and tongues.

7. In a. device of the class described, the combination of plurality of electrical con ductors, a contact cylinder electrically connected to each of said conductors and being telescopically arranged, one of said contact cylinders having flexible tongues adapted to engage the other contact cylinder, and a flexible band for pressing said tongues into intimate engagement with said other contact cylinder for improving the electrical connections therebetween, said band having a member secured thereto and operable to selectively release the improved connection between said contact cylinder and tongues.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of electrical conductors, a contact cylinder electrically connected to each of said conductors and being telescopically arranged, a band embracing said contact cylinders, and means hinged to said band for controlling the tightness of said band for controlling the intimacy of the electrical engagement between said contact cylinders, said means being provided with oflset portions cooperating with the band whereby movement of said means changes the position of said ofiset portions to control tightness of the band.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of electrical conductors, a contact cylinder electrically connected to each conductor and being telescopically arranged, one of said contact cylinders being flexible, means for pressing said flexible contact cylinder into intimate engagement with said other contact cylinder for improving the electrical connection, means for affecting the degree of engagement, and other contact members for forming another electrical connection between said conductors adapted to be disconnected after said contact cylinders are disconnected for protecting the latter against arcing.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cable, a connecter connected to said cable and having a socket portion, another cable, a connecterelectrically connected to said second cable and having a plug portion adapted to make electrical contact with the socket portion of said other connecter, contact cylinders electrically connected to each of said connecters and being telescopically arranged, and means for controlling the intimacy of the electrical contact between said contact cylinders.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cable, a connecter connected to said cable and having a socket portion, another cable, a connecter electrically connected to said other cable and having a plug portion adapted to make electrical contact with the socket portion of said other connecter, contact cylinders electrically connected to each of said connecters and being telescopically arranged, and a member embracing said contact cylinders for controlling the intimacy of their electrical engagement.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cable, a connecter electrically connected to said cable and having a socket portion, another cable, a connecter electrically connected to said second cable and having a plug portion adapted to make electrical contact with the socket portion of said other connecter, contact cylinders elec trically connected to each of said connecters and being telescopically arranged, and a flexible band embracing said contact cylinders for controlling the intimacy of the electrical contact between said contact cylinders.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of a supporting bushing having an enlarged downwardly opening recess, a cable entering said bushing and connected to a connecter supported by said bushing and having a portion in said recess, an elongated insulating bushing having a connecter therein secured to a cable, each of said connecters having a contact cylinder thereon, the contact cylinders being adapted to have telescopic relation to each other whereby the electrical connection is effected between the cables, one of said contact cylinders being flexible, supporting means on said flexible cylinder, a flexible band embracing said flexible cylinder, and means for tightening said band for releasably improving the connection between cylinders in said recess.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of a supporting bushing having an enlarged downwardly opening recess, a cable entering said bushing and connected to a connecter supported by said bushing and having a portion in said recess, an elongated insulating bushing having a connecter therein secured to a cable, each of said connecters having a contact cylinder thereon, the contact cylinders being adapted to have interfitting relation to each other whereby electrical connection is eflected between cables, one of said contact cylinders being ill) of Ma 1925 flexible,. supporting means on said flexible cylinder, andmeans for releasably tightening said band, said last named means including an operating handle disposed externally of saidrecess and having a portion extending in said recess having ofi'sets thereon connected to portions of said flexible band where by movement of said handle changes the position of said offsets to releasably tighten said band. 7 V V 15. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a supporting bushing havingan enlarged downwardly opening recess, (a cable entering said bushing and connected to a connecter supported by means in said-bushing and havinga portlon in said recess, an elongated insulating bushing havingi a' connecter'therein secured to a cable, saidwconnecter having a portion adapted to llaVG electrical connection with said first named connecter in said recess, and means operable by eccentric means controlled externally of said recess and cooperating with said 'connecters for releasably improving the connection 'therebetvveen in said recess, said ineanscooperating with said connect-ers being-adapted to release electrical connection before connection is released between the connecter portion and its associated .con'necter.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois,'this 18th day PAUL r. WIL IAMS. 

